The Statistics
Reentry after incarceration can be extremely difficult. Research from Prison Policy Initiative, indicates that as many as 60% of formerly incarcerated people are jobless at any given moment. (Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Employment of Persons Released from Federal Prison in 2010).
The same study showed that the jobless rate consistently hovered around 60% – starting at 62% at 6 months after release, and increasing slightly to 65% after 4 years post-incarceration.
For context, the highest U.S. unemployment rate of recent years was 15% in 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic).
In addition, formerly incarcerated people in the sample held an average of 3.4 different jobs throughout the 4-year study period. This further reinforces the problem that the challenge is not just “finding a job”, but finding a job that either (1) offers security or (2) provides a living wage or some opportunity for advancement.
Even after securing employment, there are challenges with earnings levels – with the same study showing that within 1 year of release, formerly incarcerated people have average weekly earnings of $269 compared to the general population of $507 – a difference of nearly double. And after 4 years of release, the weekly average earnings for a formerly incarcerated person is still less than the general population ($464 vs. $555).
For more information, you can read the full article here.
A Recent Case: Patrick Wojahn
A few days ago, it was announced that former College Park (MD) Mayor, Attorney Patrick Wojahn has been formally disbarred in Maryland (meaning he can no longer practice law). Wojahn plead guilty in November 2023 to 140 counts of possession and distribution of child pornography and is currently incarcerated in Maryland.
Wojahn, a Democrat who served as mayor from 2015 to 2023, agreed to the disbarment. His initial resignation from the mayor’s office occurred after law enforcement executed a search and seizure warrant – however, the disbarment only happened a few days ago.
Chief Justice Matthew Fader of Maryland granted a joint petition for disbarment by consent, noting Wojahn’s agreement that his actions constituted professional misconduct. This development followed Wojahn’s guilty plea in Prince George’s County Circuit Court. The full order can be viewed here.
He was previously sentenced in 2023 to 30 years in prison plus five years of probation. Wojahn won’t serve the full 30 years in prison and will be eligible for parole in a few years. If he works while incarcerated or takes advantage of other programs, he will be eligible for additional time off his sentence. Details of how Maryland’s diminution credit system works can be viewed here.
The D.C. Court of Appeals had also suspended Wojahn’s law license on an interim basis in 2024 due to his conviction for a serious crime.
As a result, after his release from prison, Wojahn, like so many others, will need to plan for, and work towards a new path in life, as his previous career (elected official and attorney) will no longer be options for him.
After a Conviction, What’s Next?
For those people convicted of a felony who may have had a career / job that requires licensing – such as an attorney, real estate broker, doctor, pharmacist, etc., they will find, even after their sentence is completed, that it may be impossible to return to a profession or a career.
Some professions, such as attorneys, have “ethical” or “morale” clauses in the licensing guidelines. While other professions simply revoke your license upon arrest or conviction. Other companies (mid-size to large corporate organizations) won’t hire anyone with a felony record.
Having a Re-Entry Plan: The Critical Piece
Having a re-entry plan is one of the most important things a defendant can prepare before they need it. A re-entry plan won’t guarantee finding work immediately but not having a plan and waiting until release to start thinking about work, is not helpful and can significantly slow down and hurt your prospects.
In addition, if you are coming up for parole, putting in the time during your incarceration to plan and work towards your future (such as taking classes or getting certifications) can be helpful for your parole hearing AND will prepare you for release.
Working with an experienced prison consultant, a defendant and their family can work though the challenges and opportunities of each situation and develop an actionable plan, that can greatly increase the likelihood of securing gainful employment and ensuring living.
Going thru the criminal justice system can seem overwhelming, and many defendants and their families only focus on the situation that is immediately in front of them (i.e. incarceration, probation, etc.) and are not able to look out into the future and create a plan.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, has plead guilty or been found guilty in court – and need assistance with re-entry planning, contact us for a free consultation.